"Yo, Rangiku."
She slept on blissfully, unaware of the silver-haired boy bending over her sleeping form. For the moment, Gin was not smiling as he gazed down at his best friend. She had not taken good care of herself while he was gone and had gotten herself sick.
He knelt down beside her and brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face and stroked her cheek gently. Her eyelashes were long as they fanned her thin cheek while she slept. Her breathing was uneven and harsh as her lungs struggled for breath.
The night was cold like her hands. Gin was not used to her being cold. Rangiku was always the warm one, himself, the cold. Gin decided it did not suit her to be as cold as she was now. He frowned in disapproval when he discovered she was trembling under the thin blanket.
"Ya can't do anything by yourself, can ya?"
Something brushed against his chest and he looked down to see her small hands latch onto his shirt.
Her eyelids opened to reveal ice blue eyes as she gazed wearily at the silver-haired boy. Through her feverish mind, she recognized the hazy figure.
"Where did you go, Gin?"
She asked the question, not expecting an answer. Rangiku felt a weight press heavily against her chest as he stayed silent, only regarding her calmly with his blue eyes. He took her hands, and for once, his were warmer than hers, and gently unclasped them from his shirt. Her eyes struggled to stay open but her vision was swimming and her head was unbearably dizzy. She fought against the sensation to go to sleep again, wanting Gin to stay with her.
As she drifted into unconsciousness, she felt the blanket being lifted and pair of warm arms encase her freezing body. Gin positioned her head carefully, letting her cold cheek rest against his warm, bare chest. The warmth soothed her.
"I bought some dried persimmons on my way back," he said softly. She hummed quietly as she felt his voice vibrate through his chest.
"If you're better tomorrow morning, ya can eat some."
She nodded tiredly against his chest.
"How'd ya get so sick, Ran?"
She shook her head and brought her hands up again to clench at his shirt. "I was waiting outside for you."
"While it was snowing?!" he asked incredulously, looking down at her.
"Nnnh… I didn't notice it was snowing until I got s-sick," she said drowsily, nodding off to sleep.
"Baka," he said, angry with her for being so careless.
"S'not my fault," she whispered defensively.
"Right," he drawled, pulling her closer, feeling her shivers rack her tiny body.
"I wish you wouldn't leave so much," she said quietly before her breaths finally slowed and she dropped off to sleep.
Gin stayed quiet as he listened to her soft breathing.
"Yeah. I do, too."